From 8 April 2026, a host of changes to UK immigration, nationality and passport fees will take effect, impacting applicants across various categories. Organisations sponsoring workers will need to adjust their recruitment budgets, while individuals will have to plan their finances accordingly. This is part of a drive for migration and borders operations to be largely self-funding.
While these increases will affect many applicants, some notable exceptions and reductions have also been confirmed. The full list of visa fee changes is here and the list of passport fee changes is here.
Electronic Travel Authorisation and visitor visa fee increases
Among the categories seeing a rise is the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee, which will jump by 25 per cent – from £16 to £20. Standard visitor visa fees (for stays up to six months) will see a modest increase as well, from £127 to £135.
Child registration fee reduction
However, not all changes are upward: the fee for a child’s application to register as a British citizen is set to decrease by 18 percent, from £1,214 to £1,000.
Fees unchanged
Importantly, certain fees will remain unchanged. The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment fee, Immigration Skills Charge, and Immigration Health Surcharge will not be affected by the April adjustments.
The below table summarises some key changes
| Category | Sub Category | Current Fee | New Fee (from 8 Apr 2026) |
| Visitor Visas | Standard Visitor (6 months) | £127 | £135 |
| Visit Visa – up to 2 years | £475 | £506 | |
| Visit Visa – up to 5 years | £848 | £903 | |
| Visit Visa – up to 10 years | £1,059 | £1,128 | |
| ETA | Electronic Travel Authorisation | £16 | £20 |
| Skilled Worker (Entry Clearance) | ≤ 3 years | £769 | £819 |
| > 3 years | £1,519 | £1,618 | |
| Skilled Worker (In‑country) | ≤ 3 years | £885 | £943 |
| > 3 years | £1,751 | £1,865 | |
| Student Visa | Standard | £524 | £558 |
| Graduate Route | Standard | £880 | £937 |
| Sponsor Licence | Small Sponsor | £574 | £611 |
| Large Sponsor | £1,579 | £1,682 | |
| Settlement (ILR) | Indefinite Leave to Remain | £3,029 | £3,226 |
| Nationality | Naturalisation (Adult) | £1,605 | £1,709 |
| Child Citizenship Registration | £1,214 | £1,000 (reduced) | |
| Passport Fees | Adult Passport (online) | £94.50 | £102 |
| Premium 1‑day UK Service | £222 | £239.50 | |
| Overseas Adult Passport | £108 | £116.50 |
Why are the fees increasing?
The House of Commons Library flagged in a research briefing on 13 February 2026 that the Government’s fee model intends to “ensure those who benefit from the system contribute to its effective operation and maintenance, while reducing reliance on taxpayer funding”. The briefing notes that fees have increased significantly above inflation, and that immigration costs in the UK are much higher than those in many other countries, including Canada, Germany and France.
The report says that “visa fees affect the economy, because prospective tourists and migrant workers could be put off if costs are too high.” The government says it tries to strike a balance “between setting fee levels to support economic growth whilst ensuring that the immigration system is properly funded”.
For applicants and employers bearing the pressure of high fees, the question is whether the Government has struck the right balance.
Practical tips
Applicants should review the new fee structure and plan their finances accordingly.
Businesses should review their immigration budgets and update any internal documents which include the government fee details, such as cost estimates to applicants.
The material in this article is provided for guidance and general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice upon which you should rely. In particular, the information should not be used as a substitute for a full and proper consultation with a suitably qualified professional. Please do contact the Bates Wells team if you require further advice.